Chapter News Update

Great turnout today at member luncheon on social networking issues

Presentations by the speakers are available here:

Program: Social Networking in Law Firms - Marketing and Legal Issues
Presentations uploaded: Betsy Davis Legal Issues and Ann Caudle Law Firm Trends Locally

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Time to Register for our Virginia Statewide Retreat

Please click here to download the Registration packet.  Again this year, we will have excellent speakers, amazing exhibit hall with 50+ business partners attending and exceptional networking opportunities.  We hope to see all of our Richmond members in Williamsburg at Kingsmill Resort March 9-10.

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Thank you to our 2012 Silver Business Partner Ricoh USA for our January social with members and guests at the Hard Shell Restaurant!  Everyone had a great time!

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Seltek Hosts Wonderful Social at James River Winery 

Some of our members and friends were captured by photographers at the Annual Meeting in Orlando

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UPS Hosts Wonderful Social at The Boathouse at Rocketts Landing

What can Brown do for us?  Members, guests, and our generous business partner, UPS, enjoyed a lovely evening at the Boathouse on May 3rd.  Thank you, UPS!

April Membership Meeting at Ruth's Chris Steakhouse

Chapter Vice President Evan Smith with Parker, Pollard, Wilton & Peadon was the featured speaker for April, and he taught useful tips and tricks for using Microsoft Outlook.  UPS sponsored this luncheon.

 Chapter Officers for 2011—2012 Sworn in at March Meeting

2011-12 Officers (l to r) Sherri Sledd, President; Evan Smith, Vice President; Pam Frazier, Secretary; Barbara Allen-Smith, Business Partner Liaison; Jennifer Doyle, Treasurer; and Ann Caudle, President-Elect.  Board Member not pictured, Michael Keatts, Immediate Past President.

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RECAP:  The Third Virginia Statewide ALA Educational Conference

By Evan Smith

On March 18 and 19, 2011, 73 members of the four Virginia ALA chapters gathered together for the Third Virginia Statewide Educational Conference in Charlottesville.  Representatives from 60 business partner companies joined the members and their guests for this fantastic event. 

The conference began with registration Friday afternoon at the recently renovated Boar’s Head Inn. A cocktail hour in the Exhibit Hall hosted by the sponsors kicked off the evening followed by a buffet dinner and dancing.  Over 200 members, business partners and guests attended the event. During dinner, ALA President-Elect Karen D. Griggs thanked the conference committee members and the sponsors for all the hard work done putting together an educational and networking event where no registration fee was required to attend!

Saturday began with a networking breakfast for all that had survived the prior evening’s entertainment.  A number of individuals from an unnamed chapter were seen moving slowly and avoiding loud noises.  I personally heard several business partners say that our ALA group conferences were always so much fun and the people so friendly, adding that they perceived a good return on their investment.

During the day, there were three educational sessions which were all well attended.  Hour long breaks were given between sessions to provide ample opportunity for members to visit the 50 sponsor booths in the Exhibit Hall.  Members enjoyed visiting the wide variety of sponsors and learning about new products and services.  The eagerness to learn from the business partners was so great, members had to be herded out of the Exhibit Hall for each educational session!  The conference concluded late Saturday afternoon with a wine and cheese social that was designed to thank the sponsors for their participation and commitment to ALA's Virginia Chapters.

I heard only positive comments about everything at this year’s conference including the weather—which reached 80 degrees on Friday!  Both sponsors and ALA members agreed the conference was very well organized.  There was adequate time for both socializing and networking with the business partners; the topics presented were both interesting and pertinent to the members; and the location and facilities were superb.  Everyone is looking forward to next year's Virginia Statewide Retreat.

Photo Captions:  [Top] Richmond President Sherri Sledd (left) stops by the registration area to visit with the four Retreat Co-Chairs–Ann Caudle of Richmond, Benjamin Sotelo (standing) of Northern Virginia, Diana White of Hampton Roads, and Michael Keatts (kneeling) of Richmond.  [Right] ALA President-Elect Karen D. Griggs, CLM poses with two of the Retreat Co-Chairs, Diana White (left) of Hampton Roads and Michael Keatts of Richmond.

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Community Challenge 2010

Our members are always so generous giving their time and talents---this year the Greater Richmond Food Bank's Community Kitchen benefitted.

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